Miners after tragedy: Every descent into the pit is a risk, but we earn our bread here

Miners of the second shift of the Kakanj Brown Coal Mine in the Haljinići operation worked with great sadness today due to the horrific accident that occurred last night an hour after midnight in the Begići-Bištrani pit, which belongs to this operation, when four miners were killed and two injured.

One of the miners, Mehmed Durmiš, was involved in the rescue operation of the injured miners last night. He is a member of the rescue squad.

- I was on the second shift and went home. Upon receiving the call, I came here and, with all my colleagues, headed towards Begići. By the time I arrived, two dead miners had already been brought out of the pit. We spent another two hours extracting the other two from under the rubble – says Durmiš.

He stated that everyone was affected by this accident and that it was particularly difficult to extract colleagues with whom they worked daily from the rubble.

- I would like to extend my deepest condolences to their families – said Durmiš.

Although their colleagues are no longer with them, the miners are aware that every descent into the pit is a risk, but that work must continue.

- We must continue to fight, we earn our bread here, and we move on, and I hope that such a tragedy will never happen to us again.

Miner Latif Ćosić, who has one month left until his earned pension, says that miners risk their lives every day when they descend into the pit.

- I call on the authorities to invest more in mines to improve equipment, increase salaries, and make the mine a better place – said the devastated Ćosić.